This area of the office is responsible for recording and maintaining official records of documents affecting real estate. The office records all instruments presented upon payment of the proper fees and compliance with other recording requirements as provided by law. Recording fees collected by the county provide a form of property tax relief. In addition, a portion of the fees collected for real estate conveyances are retained in the county’s general fund. Federal and state tax lien searches are also performed.

All records are opened to the public. Copies can be obtained in the office for a nominal fee.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

Book index from 1880 through May 1994 in the office

Book index for specific indexes on-line

Book index with images from January 1972 through May 1994 on-line

Computer index from June 1994 to present in office and on-line

Microfilm images from January 1972 through December 2004 in the office

The mission of Iowa Land Records is to provide access to county and statewide land record and related information. Iowa Land Records provides a powerful search capability for land records in Iowa counties. Registered users have access to useful services including the ability to search, view and print document images at no cost.

Woodbury County has the following information available on Iowa Land Records:

(click on the link above to connect to the On-line Index Book website)

The On-line Index Book is hosted by Cott Systems. This website provides service to search and receive images of specific index and record books. Users can search the name using the logic provided by the existing index, be placed on the first page of the index book where that entry resides, then electronically "page" through the index book to perform a visual search for the desired index information. Once an entry is visually located, if the image is available, the user simply enters the starting book and page of the document and the image is provided. The user has the ability to search, view and print document images at no cost.

Woodbury County has the following information available on the On-line Index Book Web Site: